Baker hoping it’s third time lucky in Paris

Injury and illness affected her previous two Olympic campaigns, but Tasmanian cyclist Georgia Baker feels more relaxed and prepared to finally grab Games glory in Paris.

Georgia Baker celebrates on the podium after winning one of three gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She’s searching for a maiden Olympic medal in Paris. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP)

Tasmanian cyclist Georgia Baker believes she’s due for some Olympic luck and his hoping third time’s a charm as she prepares for her busiest Games program yet in Paris.

A crash during training on the eve of the women’s team pursuit in Rio scuppered any medal hopes after the squad set a new world record in the lead-up, while illness affected her Tokyo lead-up.

This time around the 29-year-old from the small north Tasmania town of Perth feels more calm and prepared to chase the Games glory which has proven elusive thus far.

She won three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games at Birmingham in 2022 and won two silvers at last year’s world championships.

That included second in the madison, which she will compete in with best friend Alex Manly, while the team pursuit and omnium are also on her schedule.

“That’s what I’m hoping for, third time’s a charm,” she said.

“I’ve learned lots as well, I was only 21 or so when I was at Rio and I’ve definitely changed as a person, but also as a cyclist.

“I’ve learned something big from each Olympic Games, and I’m hoping this time around it will all fall into place. I feel a lot more relaxed and it just feels a bit different this time around, which is a good feeling.”

Georgia Baker won the road race at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Baker only competed in the team pursuit the previous two Olympics, but doesn’t feel having three bites at the cherry eases the pressure.

“Not really actually. I feel likes it’s more (pressure) because you want to perform the best you can and the events are so different,” she said.

“Yeah, I have three opportunities to hopefully take away a gold medal and perform well. But the team pursuit you do with the girls and that’s a huge priority for us, the madison with Alex, then the omnium is by myself.

“In some way there’s more pressure on the events where I have teammates, I want to support them and do the best I can for them as well.”

Baker said the team pursuit squad had taken some lessons out of Birmingham, where it all clicked perfectly for the race.

“We had a great ride in Birmingham and everyone reflects on that in the women’s group where everyone was on their A-game,” she said.

“We’ve taken some learnings from that. We’re hoping for a similar outcome, that would be amazing.

Georgia Baker (third from left) after helping Australia to bronze in the time trial mixed relay at the world championships in Wollongong in 2022. (Photo by Con Chronis/Getty Images)

“It is hard in a team pursuit to get all the girls flying on the same day. We know we can do it, it’s about making sure it happens on the biggest day.”

Baker has been training in Portugal with the rest of Australia’s track squad, and said preparations have changed for this campaign to give her every chance of success in the madison in particular.

“We’ve had two good bunch coaches (Glenn O’Shea and Tasmanian Institute of Sport coach Matt Gilfmore), and have been able to spend a lot more time doing some madison training,” she said.

“The training has definitely changed from the last Olympic cycle and how we’re approaching it.”

Tasmanian cycling is experiencing a cycling boom, with Felicity Wilson-Haffenden winning last year’s under-19 time trial world championship, while Hamish McKenzie was recently chosen to compete in the under-23 men’s category at the road world championships at Switzerland in late September.

Fellow Tasmanian Amy Cure was also part of the team pursuit squad in Rio.

Tasmanian cyclists Lauren Perry, Georgia Baker, Amy Cure, Grace Sulzberger and Macey Stewart in 2013.

“I can’t pinpoint why we’ve had so many good cyclists come from Tassie, but I know we’ve had really good support from the Tasmanian Institute of Sport,” Baker said.

“We are looked after so well and still to this day, ff it wasn’t for them I don’t know where I’d be. They’ve helped in all aspects of my life, it’s huge for an athlete and they also care about the person.

“We’ve had amazing coaches come through the TIS. they have a huge impact on why we have such good cyclists coming from Tassie.

“I was fortunate to ride alongside Amy. When I was a young girl she was one of my role models with how she raced and how she executed her races. She was inspiring for me and I was very fortunate to be her teammate for Rio.”

* Get Saturday’s edition of The Mercury for an in-depth chat with Baker before she rides for gold.

BAKER’S OLYMPIC SCHEDULE (TIMES AEST)

Women’s team pursuit qualifying (Wednesday, August 7, 1.30am); Women’s team pursuit first round (Wednesday, August 7, 9.52pm); Women’s team pursuit final (Thursday, August 8, 2.57am); Women’s madison (Saturday, August 10, 2.09am); Women’s omnium scratch race (Sunday, August 11, 7pm); Women’s omnium tempo race (Sunday, August 11, 7.57pm); women’s omnium elimination race (Sunday, August 11, 8.53pm); Women’s omnium points race (Sunday, August 11, 9.56pm)

Originally published as Baker hoping it’s third time lucky in Paris